Federal races for House, Senate retain spotlight

The Montana Republican Party said Friday Democrat Amanda Curtis “has remained notably silent” on the issue of the Keystone XL pipeline, which the GOP said is favored by three-fourths of Montanans.

Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke on Friday said he has agreed to appear at a debate in Sidney on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Sidney Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. A Great Falls U.S. House debate featuring Zinke, Democrat John Lewis and Libertarian Mike Fellows is set for Oct. 21 at 5 p.m., so the Republican gets to take a long drive Oct. 21.

Democrat John Lewis unveiled a new TV advertisement accusing GOP opponent Ryan Zinke of wanting to make “deep cuts to Medicare” while hoping to give large tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations.

“I support Medicare and believe that we need to keep the promises that we’ve made to our seniors,” Ryan Zinke replied Friday. Zinke communications director Shelby DeMars added opponent John “Lewis’ Obamacare has resulted in $716 billion in cuts to Medicare.”

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